Method of sorting particulate articles

ABSTRACT

Method of sorting, including feeding, orienting and counting, particulate articles such as coins, shells, candy, pills and the like, wherein the articles are placed upon a rotating inner plane and centrifugally discharged through a peripheral gauging aperture defined at the edges of a rotating inner plane. The peripheral aperture is defined by a pair of top and bottom outer gauging rings rotated at speeds similar to or at variance with the rotating inner plane according to the character of the articles being counted. Also, the size of the gauging aperture may be varied by vertical adjustment of the top outer ring to accommodate centrifugal discharge articles of varying dimension. The discharge articles may be guided tangentially and single file past a conventional photo electric or similar counting device. The rotating inner plane may have a horizontal surface, alternately a concave, convex or contour profile.

United States Patent Hoppmann et al.

[ June 13, 1972 [54] METHOD OF SORTING PARTICULATE ARTICLES [72]Inventors: Kurt H. Hoppmann; Horst A. Schober,

both of Falls Church, Va.

[73] Assignee: l-loppmann Corporation, Springfield, Va.

[22] Filed: April 19, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 135,225

[52] U.S. CI ..209/73, 209/86, 221/169, 233/47 R [5 1] Int. Cl. ..B07c5/00 [58] Field of Search ..221/7, 169; 198/33 AA; 209/60, 209/199, 74,73, 86; 233/46, 47 R, 27, 20 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,355,559 10/1920 Mauss ..233/20 A 2,527,174 10/1950 Bowman..209/86 X 3,063,596 11/1962 DAutheville et al ..221/7 PrimaryExaminer-Allen N. Knowles Assistant Examiner-Gene A. ChurchAtt0rneyDavid H. Semmes [57] ABSTRACT Method of sorting, includingfeeding, orienting and counting, particulate articles such as coins,shells, candy, pills and the like, wherein the articles are placed! upona rotating inner plane and centrifugally discharged through a peripheralgaug' ing aperture defined at the edges of a rotating inner plane. Theperipheral aperture is defined by a pair of top and bottom outer gaugingrings rotated at speeds similar to or at variance with the rotatinginner plane according to the character of the articles being counted.Also, the size of the gauging aperture may be varied by verticaladjustment of the top outer ring to accommodate centrifugal dischargearticles of varying dimension. The discharge articles may be guidedtangentially and single file past a conventional photo electric orsimilar counting device, The rotating inner plane may have a horizontalsurface, alternately a concave, convex or contour profile.

20 Claims, 6 Drawing figures PATENTEDJUH 13 1912 sum 2 0F 5 KUR HORINVENTORS H. HOPPMANN A. SCHOBER ATTORN EY PATENTEUJun 13 m2 3. 669 260sum 3 OF 5 INVENTORS KURT H. HOPPMANN HORSTASCHOBER ATTORNEYPATENTEDJUH131972 I 3.669.260 SHEET 0F 5 FIG. 5

mvsmons KURT H. HOPPMANN HORST A. S'CHOBER ATTORNEY PATENTEnJun 13 1922sum 5 or 5 mvsiwonS KURT H. HOPPMANN HORSTA. SCHOBER ATTORNEY METHOD OFSORTING PARTICULATE ARTICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention Increasing attention is being given to methods for sortingparticulate matter such as coins, shells, pills, and the like. Recentinventors have evolved a plurality of rotating devices whichcentrifugally discharge articles to be counted from the edges of therotating plane. Traditionally, centrifugally discharged articles areforced through a stationary exit aperture and thence counted, as theyare tangentially ejected. A primary shortcoming of utilizing stationaryexit apertures is the tendency of such devices to become jammed with thearticle, necessitating shutdown for clearing of the aperture in order tocontinue counting.

2, Description of the Prior Art 2,632,588 Hoar 2,763, I08 Garrett3,063,596 dAutl-ieville 3,170,627 Pearson 3,2l5,3l Hurst 3,253,604 Read3,266,664 Pearson 3,368,7l3 Hurst SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According toapplicants method the articles being fed and oriented are centrifugallydischarged; through an aperture defined by a rotating top gauging ringand a rotating lower outer support ring. Since the gauging ring andsupport ring are rotating simultaneously with a rotating, inner circularplane, jamming during centrifugal discharge is avoided. Also, the innerplane, gauging ring and outer ring rotating speeds may be varied toeffect centrifugal discharge, accommodated to the gravitationalcharacteristics or mass configuration of the articles being counted.DAutheville suggest inclining the rotating discs so as to affect ameasure of control. However, his discharge gates are stationary and, itis submitted, subject to jamming.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a vertical sectional view ofa proposed form of the apparatus showing a feeding hopper mounted upon arotating inner disc, adjacent with the outer rotating top gauging ringand outer rotating lower support ring;

FIG. 2 is a top plan thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section of a modified gauging ringwhich has curvate apertures in the lower surface of its vertical wall,configured as the cross-section of the articles being counted;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective, slightly enlarged, showing thefeeding of round articles such as pills through the curvate apertures inthe gauging ring;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section of a modified method ofcounting, wherein the top gauging ring and lower support ring discs arerotated simultaneously by means of a single peripheral belt; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 there is illustrateda device for counting particulate articles according to the presentmethod and including a baseplate 10 and an intermediate plate 12 securedto each other by a plurality of threaded bolts 14, 16, 18 and 20 havingsuitable washer and knot elements.

Inner rotating discharge plate 44 is mounted upon hub 45 which is seatedin bearings 62, 64, 66, 68 and driven rotatably by means of belt 50. Anouter support ring 36 is supported upon rotating cradle 38, which isdriven by means of belt 40 at a speed identical to the rate of rotationof discharge plate 44 or variant therewith. Gauging ring 34 is supportedabove outer discharge ring 36 by means of a plurality of drive pulleys24 including groove 32, engaging the edge 33 of gauging ring 34.

lit

Pulley 24 is driven by the belt 30 and may be supported upon shaft 28having bearings 28 and 70. The belt 30 may be used to drive pulley 24 atspeeds consistent with belt 40 and 50 or at variance therewith,according to the gravitational characteristics or configuration of thearticles being counted. As il lustrated in FIG. 1, there is a stationaryouter baffle 72, supported upon base 74, resting upon plate 12, andextending vertically so as to overlap aperture 82 defined betweengauging ring 34 and discharge plate 36.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, plate 72 includes at one side tangential slot82 defined by outer edge 86 and rounded inner shoulder 84. As will beapparent, articles centrifugally discharged through aperture 82 arethrown through slot 82 which may be horizontal, alternatively inclineddownwardly or upwardly adjacent a photocell or similar counting device83-85.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 there is illustrated variant gauging ring havingcurvate apertures 88 in the lower face of the inner wall of the gaugingring. Round articles, such as pills 90 are admitted through theapertures 88, only as they are aligned in the desired vertical position,which may be the position selected for counting by photocell, andpackaging or the like.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 there is illustrated a further modification of asuggested counting apparatus wherein the outer gauging ring 34" and thelower discharge ring 36" are rotated at identical speeds by means of anouter belt 88 abutting the periphery of both rings and extending arounddrive pulley 90. The articles being counted, 91 are admitted through thedischarge aper' ture only when they are on their sides conversely,article 92 is not centrifugally discharged, since it is verticallyupright. As will be apparent, the height of the gauging ring withrespect to the outer support ring in all modifications of the inventionmay be varied by adjustment of plate 12 upon thread bolts 14, 16, 18 and20.

We claim:

1. Method of sorting particulate articles comprising:

a. centrifugally distributing said articles upon a rotating inner plane;

b. defining a rotating exit atthe periphery of said rotating inner planeby:

i. rotating a circular top ring as a gauging ring, and ii. rotating acircular lower ring as a support ring;

c. gauging centrifugal discharge of said articles through said exit; and

d. tangentially guiding said articles away from said plane,

sequentially of gauging.

2. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 1,

wherein said rotating plane is circular.

3. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 2, including:

a. varying gauging of said articles by vertical adjustment of said topgauging ring with respect to said lower rotating outer support ring.

4. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim .2, in-

cluding:

a. varying the speed of rotating said top gauging ring with respect tothe speed of rotating of said lower support ring.

5. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 2, including:

a. varying the speeds of rotating said gauging ring and said lowersupport ring with respect to the speed of rotating of said rotatingplane.

6. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 2, in-

cluding:

a. varying the speed of rotating of said lower support ring with respectto the speed of rotating said gauging ring.

7. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 3, wherein saidgauging ring includes an inner wall vertically extending above saidhorizontal exit and said rotating plane.

8. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 7, said inner wallincluding a plurality of apertures defined in its lower edge andconfigured similarly to the cross section of articles being counted.

9. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 3, includingtilting the axis of said rotating plane, said gauging ring and saidouter ring during sorting.

10. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 4, including:

a. feeding of said articles on to said rotating plane by hopper means.

11. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 4, including:

a. feeding of said articles on to said rotating plane by a hopper meanssecured to said rotating plane.

12. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 3, wherein saidtangentially guiding of said articles is by means of a circular baffleand a tangential discharge chute.

13. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 3, includingsimultaneously rotating said gauging ring and said lower support ringvia a belt means engaging their outer periphery.

14. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 2,

wherein said rotating of said circular lower ring is alignedhorizontally with rotating of said inner plane.

15. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 1, wherein saidrotating plane has a horizontal profile.

16. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 1, wherein saidrotating plane has a concave profile.

17. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 1, wherein saidrotating plane has a convex profile.

18. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 1, includingguiding of said article upwardly from said rotating plane.

19. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 1, whereinincluding guiding of said article downwardly from said rotating plane.

20. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 1, whereinincluding guiding of said article horizontally from said rotating plane.

1. Method of sorting particulate articles comprising: a. centrifugallydistributing said articles upon a rotating inner plane; b. defining arotating exit at the periphery of said rotating inner plane by: i.rotating a circular top ring as a gauging ring, and ii. rotating acircular lower ring as a support ring; c. gauging centrifugal dischargeof said articles through said exit; and d. tangentially guiding saidarticles away from said plane, sequentially of gauging.
 2. Method ofsorting particulate articles as in claim 1, wherein said rotating planeis circular.
 3. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 2,including: a. varying gauging of said articles by vertical adjustment ofsaid top gauging ring with respect to said lower rotating outer supportring.
 4. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 2,including: a. varying the speed of rotating said top gauging ring withrespeCt to the speed of rotating of said lower support ring.
 5. Methodof sorting particulate articles as in claim 2, including: a. varying thespeeds of rotating said gauging ring and said lower support ring withrespect to the speed of rotating of said rotating plane.
 6. Method ofsorting particulate articles as in claim 2, including: a. varying thespeed of rotating of said lower support ring with respect to the speedof rotating said gauging ring.
 7. Method of sorting particulate articlesas in claim 3, wherein said gauging ring includes an inner wallvertically extending above said horizontal exit and said rotating plane.8. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 7, said inner wallincluding a plurality of apertures defined in its lower edge andconfigured similarly to the cross section of articles being counted. 9.Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 3, including tiltingthe axis of said rotating plane, said gauging ring and said outer ringduring sorting.
 10. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim4, including: a. feeding of said articles on to said rotating plane byhopper means.
 11. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 4,including: a. feeding of said articles on to said rotating plane by ahopper means secured to said rotating plane.
 12. Method of sortingparticulate articles as in claim 3, wherein said tangentially guiding ofsaid articles is by means of a circular baffle and a tangentialdischarge chute.
 13. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim3, including simultaneously rotating said gauging ring and said lowersupport ring via a belt means engaging their outer periphery.
 14. Methodof sorting particulate articles as in claim 2, wherein said rotating ofsaid circular lower ring is aligned horizontally with rotating of saidinner plane.
 15. Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 1,wherein said rotating plane has a horizontal profile.
 16. Method ofsorting particulate articles as in claim 1, wherein said rotating planehas a concave profile.
 17. Method of sorting particulate articles as inclaim 1, wherein said rotating plane has a convex profile.
 18. Method ofsorting particulate articles as in claim 1, including guiding of saidarticle upwardly from said rotating plane.
 19. Method of sortingparticulate articles as in claim 1, wherein including guiding of saidarticle downwardly from said rotating plane.
 20. Method of sortingparticulate articles as in claim 1, wherein including guiding of saidarticle horizontally from said rotating plane.